COVID Protocol: Our Covid-19 protocols have been adjusted, we are now in Green. Masking is recommended. Please visit our website here for more details.

The Bruise that Never Heals / Rev. Dawn Cooley

January Theme: Finding Our Center

Live Stream Worship at 10am / Recorded Viewing Available at Noon

Live stream link can be found here.

Sunday’s chalice table flowers are given in loving memory of

Jane Wood’s husband, John.

OFFERING : Community Renewal Society (CRS)

Unity Temple Gives. Each week we give our Sunday collection to an organization that aligns with our values. This Sunday’s collection will benefit the Community Renewal Society (CRS) – a powerful network of Chicago-area faith communities organizing and advocating for racial and economic justice. Learn more here.



You may donate by placing cash or check in one of the circulating baskets during the service, sending a check to the Unity Temple office (875 Lake St., Oak Park, 60301) with (name of organization) on the memo line, by texting 73256 with the message UTUUC $____ (dollar sign followed by your donation amount) and select “Offering,” by using the camera on your phone to scan the QR code on the screen during the Offertory or you can give at the UTUUC website. Whatever modality you choose, may what you give bring you joy.

Sunday Worship Service

In-person and online options for worship are now offered. COVID Protocol: Our Covid-19 protocols have been adjusted, we are now in Green. Please visit our website here for more details.You can access the live stream on YouTube at 10am here.

Community Hour Following the Sunday morning service join us for Community Hour for refreshments and fellowship in Unity House and on the patios as weather permits.

Chalice Table Reservations We welcome floral arrangements or other decorations such as objects from nature or spiritual symbols to be included on our Chalice Table during worship on Sunday mornings. Please refrain from political/campaign related objects as they will be removed. To reserve a date, please fill out this form. Thank you for contributing to our worship experience. For assistance contact flowers@unitytemple.org.

Call for Cookies Our cookie supply is running low. Donations are now being gratefully accepted. If you would like to donate a package or two of cookies, please drop them off in the kitchen on Sunday mornings. Note: NO NUTS. Also, gluten free cookies are much appreciated too. Thank you!

Reflecting with the Board

Monday, January 16 at 7pm The Board of Trustees wants to stay connected with you. We are offering an opportunity to share what we have been doing, to listen to your questions and concerns, and to invite you to join us as we continue to reflect on our Unity Temple community. The Zoom link can be found here. Meeting ID: 838 6603 4326 / Passcode: Unity

The Annual Fund Drive Reached 88% of Our Goal As of January 12, 2023 we have a pledge total of $820,037 towards the goal of $924,500. Our goal during this Season of Renewal is to ensure that our beloved community remains resilient, strong, and connected. We know from previous challenges that goals are reached when we work together and have an adaptable community with outstanding leadership.

Food & Fellowship Monthly "Brown-Bag Lunch with the Minister(s)" will take place on January 19, the third Thursday of the month from 11:30am - 12:30pm. These new opportunities to connect will be in person at 1019 South Blvd in the odd months and will switch to virtual meetings in the even months via Zoom. This month we will meet in person at 1019 South Blvd. Bring your lunch!

A Time To Create New Memories & Reunite With New & Old Friends! The 2023 UTUUC Auction is fast approaching! We are still accepting donations to make this exciting event fun for you & make some money for the church.

Need ideas of what to donate? Just talk to one of the Auction Team at coffee hour who will be happy to help you decide what to donate. There will be a variety of dinners, events, and more that you can bid on and enjoy!  

Auction bidding begins February 12, 2023. We hope to have something for everyone! Stay tune for more information & updates! See one of our auction team members during coffee hour to make your donation!

Clean Buildings Ordinance This week, our environmental justice partner, Faith in Place Executive Director, Rev. Brian Sauder, published this op-ed in the Chicago Tribune, urging the City Council to pass a citywide pollution-free clean buildings ordinance. "Clean air cannot wait. The City Council has an obligation to protect the people they serve from dangerous, expensive and outdated methods of heating our homes.” If you’re a Chicago resident, please urge your alderperson to prioritize public health, utility affordability, and clean energy jobs with a clean buildings ordinance today! Sign the petition! Questions? Contact: ecojustice@unitytemple.org

Join the Community of Congregations for our Annual Gathering on February 2, 6:30pm at Grace Episcopal Church, 924 Lake St., Oak Park. We will be highlighting the work of the Interfaith Green Network. RSVP by January 30 to participate in the meal. Questions? Contact: oprfcoc@gmail.com. 

Sunday Collection Recipients Thanks to all who nominated organizations and all who participated in the voting process to select UTUUC’s Sunday collection recipients for 2023. Here is the list of selected recipients for 2023. Questions?  Contact: SundayCollections@unitytemple.org.

Faith in Action Newsletter

To learn more about living our mission and values through our Faith in Action Network, sign-up for our monthly newsletter here and watch our impact statement here. Questions? 

Contact Rev. Colleen, Assistant Minister for Faith in Action cvahey@unitytemple.org.

UUANI Action of the Week Each week our Unitarian Universalist Advocacy Network of IL (UUANI) offers a call to action. Sign-up to receive these simple and impactful actions direct to your in-box here.

Join us Monday, January 16, 1–3pm for the Community Renewal Society Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Assembly at St. Mark’s United Methodist Church, 8441 S Saint Lawrence Ave, Chicago 60619. We’ll hear from district council and aldermanic candidates, and learn about the 2023 election. All are welcome! If you are unable to attend in person, live-stream information will be sent the week of January 9. Register here!  Contact us if you’re interested in possible carpools: restorativejustice@unitytemple.org.

Volunteers & Meals Needed On January 4, Housing Forward re-opened an emergency winter overnight shelter for up to 15 individuals and families experiencing homelessness. The shelter is located in the former rectory building of St. Catherine / Lucy, 38 N. Austin Blvd., Oak Park. Volunteers are needed to work with staff to greet clients, help serve meals, site security overnight and clean-up the next morning. There are 3 shifts:

• Evening – 6:30-10:30p (3 volunteers)
• Overnight – 10:30p-5:00a (2 volunteers)
• Morning – 5:00a-7:00a (2 volunteers)  

If interested in volunteering at the shelter or providing a meal for shelter guests, please sign up here. Questions? Please contact cjackson@housingforward.org.

Thank you to all for your advocacy, public witness, phone calls, and witness slips! Legislation banning assault weapons, restricting large-capacity magazines, and addressing illegal gun trafficking passed the Illinois General Assembly and was signed by the Governor on Tuesday evening. We have a long road ahead of us to end gun violence, but this week showed the power of many people coming together to advocate for the long haul! To join Unity Temple’s gun violence prevention team, organizing with local partners, contact: gunviolenceprevention@unitytemple.org.

Please join us for our bi-monthly Meet&Greet gathering! New and established congregants alike are invited to attend. We meet on the 1st Sunday of each month at Gale House from 11:30-12:30pm and the 3rd Thursday of each month at the UTUUC Community Center from 6:30-7:30pm. Questions? Contact tlewis@unitytemple.org. Hope to see you THIS Thursday, January 19!

Rainbow Connections Meeting Do you consider yourself part of the queer UTUUC community? If so, please join us on the evening of Thursday, January 19, from 7 to 8:30pm. It is our monthly Rainbow Connections meeting. (Allies are welcome, on occasion, by invitation only.) This month's topic is taken from the Soul Connections packet: Finding Your Center. We will be meeting in person at 1019 South Blvd, Oak Park as well as on Zoom. Hope to see you soon! Zoom link here.

Men's Retreat 2023

Mark your calendars for the weekend of January 27–29, 2023 at the Cabrini Center. Our theme this year will be Turning Points of Our Lives. Contact mensretreat@unitytemple.org.

Winter Pathway to Membership Schedule

Our membership classes will resume in January. Participants learn about the congregation’s history and how we work today. It is a wonderful way to get to know a small group of people and decide how you can become part of our collective future. Groups meet at our community center located at 1019 South Blvd on Sundays from 1:30-3:30pm. Childcare is available upon request. In addition, on-line accommodations can be made. The winter schedule is January 15 & 22, February 12 & 19, and March 12 & 19. To register contact tlewis@unitytemple.org. 

Women’s Connection Pizza Party The Women’s Connection invites you to a pizza party on Friday, January 13 at 6pm, 1019 South Boulevard. We will supply pizza and salad, bring an appetizer or dessert to share. After socializing we will update everyone on our  ANNUAL RETREAT in February. This is a great way to connect after the holidays. Questions? 

womensconnection@unitytemple.org.

The 2023 Annual Women's Retreat will take place from February 17–19, 2023 at the Carmelite Spiritual Center. This year's theme is Emerging Together. Our keynote speaker will be, our very own Rev. Dawn Cooley. This will be a very spiritual and uplifting weekend with break out sessions, music, dance, crafts and food.  

Registration is open and can be found here. You can also log onto Realm and go to Events and will see the event listed as the Featured Event.

Congregational Life Table Reservation As the weather changes and we move our Community Hour back indoors, tables may now be requested to promote congregational happenings. Hosting a table is a great way to make sure congregants know how to participate in events, activities, and service opportunities. To reserve space contact tlewis@unitytemple.org.

The Chicago Area UU Council will be holding its in-person and online winter conference on Saturday, January 28 from 9am-2pm at Countryside Church UU in Palatine. The conference keynote presentation is titled Finding Our Center – A journey to the central values the Article II Study Commission have presented for our consideration.

All UUs are invited to an important day of learning, sharing, and fellowship. Speakers will talk about the work of the Article II Study Commission, the vision and rationale behind the proposed Article II changes, and how to encourage thoughtful and informed discussion within our own congregations. Attendees of the CAUUC Winter Conference can expect a rich and rewarding experience, regardless of their level of knowledge coming into the event. We offer a special welcome to any interested UU high school students who would like to join and bring their own curiosity and perspectives to the larger discussion. Details and registration can be found here.

Youth Bake, Art & Literature Sale! Come shop or make a cash donation at our sale on Sunday, January 22 during coffee hour. The sale will support our 9th grade Coming of Age class charity project in collaboration with Housing Forward. Please show your support of our youth and their chosen mission to raise the funds to provide 40 lunches for individuals and families waiting for housing and residing in Housing Forward’s Interim Housing program in Oak Park. 

The Mindful Reflection 

community meets every TUESDAY evening virtually and in person in Unity House at Unity Temple. Meeting opens at 6:45pm for camaraderie, the program starts promptly at 7:20pm. Vaccinations are encouraged, masks are mandatory. We will follow our usual format with 20 minutes of Mindful Reflection followed by a dharma talk and discussion. Questions email 

mindful@unitytemple.org. Join Zoom meeting here.

Daily Mindful Reflection Community 30 minute meeting, 7 days a week! Starts at 8:25am and ends at 9am every day, seven days a week. This will be different from our regular Tuesday night meeting. The daily meditation will include opening words, 20 minutes of mindful reflection, and closing words. All are welcome! You are welcome to attend regularly or sporadically. 

Time: Every Day (including weekends) at 08:30am Central Time (US and Canada) Join Zoom Meeting here. ID: 373 008 242  / Passcode: 4IFrYx. One tap mobile:+13126266799,,373008242#,,,,*940220#1 312 626 6799 Meeting ID: 373 008 242 / Passcode: 940220

Movies with Meaning offers the congregation an example of each month’s ministry theme through the familiar, friendly and popular medium of cinema sharing the experience in community. For our January theme Finding Our Center, Movies with Meaning is showing Puzzle a movie which shows how making one small change can lead to unexpected adventure.  Click here to view the official movie trailer. Join us Friday night, January 20, gathering at 6:30pm with movie at 7 at the Unity Temple Community Center, 1019 South Boulevard. All are welcome at this gratis event! For more information, contact adultre@unitytemple.org.

We were able to take advantage of the warm weather this week and install window graphics at the UTUUC Community Center!

Through Our Differences, We Are One :: The beloved community includes people of all political parties. Here at Unity Temple we call people to live out our faith but this does not mean we share the same political or partisan perspective. May we remind one another to honor our own life experience in the development of our unique perspective while honoring that of others. The core of being a religious liberal is remaining open to and respectful of a pluralism of theological positions and political stances. As Unitarian Universalists, we affirm the right of conscience and the use of the democratic process within our congregations and in society at large while also knowing that endorsements or support of particular candidates cannot be part of our congregational process. 

Planned Giving offers a variety of meaningful ways to support our congregation through charitable gifts and can be made by anybody – young and old, working or retired. These gifts are made today, but they support the future needs of your congregation and Unitarian Universalism. You can obtain more information about planned gifts by contacting the Planned Giving Team at plannedgiving@unitytemple.org